Free Touch of Eden by Jessie M Page A

name.”
    “ Right. Would you like some tea Lorraine?”
    “ Yes please, no sugar.”
    I make her tea and one for myself and join her at the table.
    “ Do you want some help, with your puzzle?” I ask her.
    “ If you like. Who are you anyway?”
    “ I'm Joshua. Eden's friend from work.”
    “ Never heard of you... Do you like puzzles?” No I absolutely fucking hate them with a passion.
    “ Of course I do. Who doesn't love a good puzzle? Come on then, let's do it together.”
    We sit for another hour or so and finish it. I don't take over, just point her towards the pieces very subtly sliding then under her hand.
    “ There you go Lorraine. All done.” Her face looks confused and sad. I realise that I have made a huge error of judgement hurrying her through it and she is now puzzle-less. This is her hobby, her one and only pastime, apart from her books, which she never actually reads. I now need to get Lorraine another puzzle to keep her occupied. “Would you like to come out and get a new one?” Where the hell you buy jigsaw puzzles from I couldn't hazard a guess.
    Her face lights up. “Toys R US?” Oh God no... Not a toy store... Fucking great.
    “ Is that where you buy them?” I haven't a clue, obviously.
    “ The cat came from there.”
    “ Right. Get your shoes on. We'll find you a puzzle and I'll buy you McD for lunch.” It'll be fun for her. I'm pretty damn sure Lorraine hasn't been to McD that often in the past, if at all.
    I call Eden quickly, before I kidnap her mother.
    “Hi hon, a s you aren't available for lunch today, I'm taking your lovely mum out instead.”
    “ Why are you still there?”
    “ I like doing cat puzzles.”
    “ Fuck off home Josh.”
    “ What do you want for dinner tonight?”
    “ What are you talking about?”
    “ I'm cooking you both dinner at my stable.”
    “ Assuming you're not joking, anything as long as it's not too hot. Mum can't eat really spicy stuff.”
    “ What about a Joshie special lasagne?”
    “ Yum.”
    “ Don't be late, it takes over an hour to make.” I click off.
    After a twenty minute drive to Ipswich to the dreadful toy superstore, we finally leave Toys R Us at 12 with a new and very precious horse puzzle. Precious and exciting based on the enthusiastic way Lorraine is hugging it to herself, like a newborn baby. We then proceed to fill up with BK burgers, fries and strawberry shakes which we both tuck into with a smile. BK is far better than McD in my opinion. I prefer their fries and their burgers are big and meaty. Perfect man food in fact. I am more than pleased that Mrs S. seems to be enjoying our trip out together anyway.
    I stop off at the supermarket on the way back to pick up my dinner items with my new best friend in tow. She leads me around pointing at things and explaining what they are as if I'm a child. She's very sweet. We arrive at the pet aisle and I remember her fascination with dog food.
    “ Chum is cheaper.” She points at the half price sign.
    “ What's your dog called?” I ask her.
    “ Bess.”
    “ And where does Bess live?”
    “ In the cottage, by the farm.”
    “ Is that your house?”
    “ Yes, and my parents of course.”
    “ Y ou're remembering something from your childhood. Bess is gone now. Dogs don't live very long.”
    “ Where has she gone?”
    “ She died Lorraine. A long, long time ago. I'm sorry.”
    “ So I don't need dog food?”
    “ No. You didn't get another dog. Not after Bess died.”
    “ Oh dear.”
    I daresay she'll forget this conversation the next time she hits the supermarket on her own but at least I tried.
    We go back to Eden's and I get Lorraine going on the horse puzzle. I make us coffee in the afternoon and help her a little more. There's one thing I am now absolutely sure of. Lorraine does not fancy me one bit. Eden made that up to get me upstairs in her bedroom. I am more than pleased about this fact.
    Soon enough it's 4pm and Eden is home. I know she is intrigued and surprised by